Im going to have to agree to let it go and do not bill the school. Things happen, you know the saying... s t happens. Well this is a classic case. Work with the custodial staff and school staff this year, diplomatically, of course to make them aware of the procedures for your label program. Show them where everything is. Who knows.. maybe there was a new person working and had no idea about the labels and thought he was doing a great job throwing out all that paper!LOL! Live and learn and move on.

Hey and go easy on your custodial staff too. In our schools they are the most helpful people to us. They help us whenever we need tables and chairs set up and a whole lot more.

And like POMOM, we have a locked file cabinet as well. Their are two keys that the Co Presidents have. Just a good thing to have in general.

At our school, all the teachers have a big envelope (clearly labeled for boxtops)near their door. We have a person go around once a week to empty out the envelopes. This person then goes downstairs to count them and file them in a locked PTA cabinet.

Only the officers and the head custodian have the keys. This is so we can keep tabs on things. You may want to look into getting a locked cabinet for your stuff up at the school.

As far as money goes, we(most of us anyway) count it and hand it to the school secretary who locks it up in the school safe until the treasurer gets a chance to go get it.Most of us follow this rule but we do have those who feel differently and do take it home until they feel like giving it over.

Now to handing over the bill... I wouldn't do it.It's the school who loses out on stuff not the PTO. Mistakes happen, cough it up to experience and get over it. It's way too early in the school year to start getting people mad at you. If your custodian is anything like ours,pointing blame and getting him mad will make it a very long and difficult year for not just you but for the entire PTA as well!

Originally posted by mykidsmom:

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Not going to be popular with this question but, were does your responsiblity lie with this? Your fundrasier, your items, you left them at school.........sorry, I know you are "upset" but it was a mistake. A tough one to fix but a mistake.

I appreciate the advice but I will see what happens.
This isn't the first time things "walked off," there have been MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS mystery walk off. They have a special box now in the front office for the money.

My prob is with your answer -- was what was MY RESPONSIBILITY!!!!..

First of all, that bin has been in the teachers workroom for 5 years! I took over this job this year because no one wanted it!!!!!. School started last Monday and it was trashed that afternoon after sitting there ALL SUMMER!!!!!!
I had teachers coming to me on Friday, after I found out it was gone, wondering where to put the labels (I said the mailbox till I get something)

I thought about keeping the items at home but I have 2 dogs a cat and 4 kids The possibility of it walking away at home was more than I ASS UMED from school since the bin has been there for 5 years. That was MY MISTAKE!!!!!! but NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY!!!!!!!

Its the principal of the idea. I can understand if it was a box with some sort of writing on it but it was the bin straight from Campbell's. You couldn't miss it. It was against a wall out of the way.

My bad...I didn't realize that you included Tyson Labels in your original post.

I have to agree with mykidsmom on this one. Firstly, you won't get far with billing the school for lost revenue in box tops. Secondly, it sounds like you need a safer place for your PTO items, perhaps some type of cabinet? I say instead of dwelling on the negative, learn from this mistake and try to remedy the situation so it doesn't happen again in the future. As for the Campbell Soup Labels, our school decided that for all the work you have to put into them, it wasn't worth the reward. Have you tried Tyson Labels, they are worth .24 each. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Just a thought...wouldn't it be better to talk about this issue with the principal, head custodian, and ???office manager???. I guess I would be laughed outta my school if I delivered a bill for $180 for lost possible revenue and personal items.

Don't misunderstand, our group had 10lbs of chocolate mints eaten/stolen from the teachers' lounge. They were set out in pretty baskets on tables thanking them "a mint" for all their work. I was there until 6p.m. (afterschool program closes at 6) and was heartbroken to hear the next morning from the director ALL the candy he watched me set out was gone. THe response I got, won't do that again will ya! Seriously. But to submit a bill....

Not going to be popular with this question but, were does your responsiblity lie with this? Your fundrasier, your items, you left them at school.........sorry, I know you are "upset" but it was a mistake. A tough one to fix but a mistake.